Rumours that Liverpool want to sell striker Robbie Keane are well wide of the mark insists Red’s boss Rafael Benitez.

Keane moved to Merseyside from Tottenham in the summer in a move which cost £20 million. But he’s struggled since the switch and has scored just four goals this season.

Keane was left out of Liverpool’s starting XI for the weekend win away to Blackburn, a move that sparked speculation that the Republic of Ireland international could be surplus to requirements come the January transfer window.

But ahead of their Champions League game at PSV, Benitez has rubbished reports that Keane is on his way out saying:

Robbie’s future is to be ready, to score goals and to work for the team.

In football we know we have signed a good player, you cannot guarantee anyone’s position. In some games he has to work hard.

Clearly he has to show character, and show you are a good player. When we decide to sign him we knew he was a good player.

I do not need to talk too much on this. A lot of top clubs have very expensive players, they have four of them on the bench every week.

He has to know he needs to fight and work hard. But he has a future here, why not?

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